That's a inappropriate comparison.
To patch that vulnerability would require the ability to update Android on existing handsets.
You mean like Apple can on iPhones and MS can on Windows Phones?
For this to work, the handset manufacturers would have to provide a new version of Android for the given handset.
I don't have to wait for Dell to provide a new version of Windows for me to patch a security vulnerability.
For this to work, the Android development model of "partner, not Google, productizes Android" would have to change.
huh?
For this to work, there would have to be ongoing development on an older hardware platform.
And my 2006 Mac running Windows 7 is still getting Windows updates from Microsoft.....
For this to work, there would have to be carrier involvement in certification.
Do you really think Apple waits for "certification" from all 160+ carriers worldwide before updating iOS?
For this to work, the carrier revenue model of locking you into a two year contract every 18 months would have to change.
And my old iPhone 4s introduced 9/2011 is still getting updates.....
-
It's in absolutely no ones financial interest to provide updates to Android in already shipped handsets, and Google is not in a position, as an OS supplier, rather than a phone vendor (which is what Apple is), to force changes in operational model into the carrier or the partner device vendor.
Microsoft is an "OS supplier", yet and still my Mac Mini running Windows 7 , Sony, Gateway, and Dell can all get OS updates, but you still have to wait for Verizon to get updates for the Google Nexus on their network?
U.S. Carriers are *NOT* going to change their revenue model just so people can buy ala carte devices that will work with any carrier,
The reason that one phone can't be used worldwide are because of the different bands that the different carriers support and the different technologies (CDMA/GSM) .
You can buy an iPhone right now that will work with varying degrees on all carriers in the US.
and cost more up front for you to go with their service, rather than rolling it into the monthly payment when you go with a competitors service. Everyone would have to change at once (collusion, a violation of both the Sherman Antitrust Act and the RICO Statutes, and definitely something that would be prosecuted), or the carrier that tried to move to the European model would find itself out of business.
All of the carriers have an option that allow you to buy your phone up front and just pay for service.
Likewise, the handset vendors, whose revenue model is completely built on thin margins,
Every heard of this little company called Apple?
And then they'd need to change their FAS accounting to match that of Apple's, or face charges under Sarbanes-Oxley, which is what Apple had to do before it could give away the WiFi updates to 802.11g/n for iPods. You'll (maybe) remember that they got a percentage of the monthly wireless fee from the carrier for iPhones, but realized their income at time of sale on iPod Touch and non-3G iPads, and so they had to charge $5 for the update.
And seriously, would you be willing to pay $5 for a bug fix for a bug you were pretty sure wasn't impacting you anyway, and was just some security "researcher" throwing a hissy fit to get their company name in the news so they got audit contracts out of it?
Not true, the law changed years ago. That's why Apple has been able to "give away" free OS upgrades for all of their devices for years.